Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. W. VAN DORSTUN.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented' May 12, 1885.

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WITNBSSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. W. VAN DORSTGN.

OAR COUPLING.'

110.3118114. Patented 111W 12, 11185.

WITNBSSES 1 llnirrnn Srnrns Arnnr rrncn,

ALVIN W. VAN DORSTON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAR-COUPLING.

@PECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,894, dated May 12, .1885.

Application filed March 12, 1885. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN WV. VAN Dons- ToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, `have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My present invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplings in which a connecting-bar having arrow-shaped heads with slight conveXo-concave lips isl adapted to enter into the draw-head 4and automatically interlock with the inner ends of the couplingjaws arranged therein, to hold the said connecting-bar until released by the self-adjusting coupling-levers operating said jaws, as fully set forth in Letters Patent No. 314,496, granted to me under date of March 24, 1885, the object of my present improvements being to provide an improved construction whereby the ordinary link may be used in connection with the draw-head with equal effect as with the connecting-bar having the arrow-shaped heads; and my improvements consist, essentially, in providing the draw-head with a central vertical opening for the reception of the ordinary coupling-pin, the lower end of which rests upon the extensions on the inner ends of the lockingjaws until said jaws are forced outwardly apart by the entering of the link, which allows the coupling-pin to drop down through to form the connection.

My improvements further consist in certain details of construction and general arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specically designated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal transverse section of the draw-head and its mechanism; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section ofthe same; Figs. 3 and 4, vertical transverse sections with the mechanism as they appear looking from the rear; Fig. 5, a front elevation of the drawhead; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 7, a topplan View thereof; Fig. 8, a vertical longitudinal section with inner mechanism removed; Fig. 9, a sectional view showing the connecting-bar and jaws in a coupled position; Fig. l0, a sectional View taken on the line .fr .fr of Fig. 8, and Fig. 1l a sectional view with the ordinary link therein.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the draw-head provided with a suitable mouth or opening, B, and an inner recess, C, for the reception of the connecting-bar or the ordinary link, as in the usual manner. Midway between the said mouth or opening B and the inner recess, C, of the draw-head is provided a vertical transverse recess, D, extending throughV said draw-head from one side to the other for the reception of the sliding jaws E, which are adapted to move back and forth therein by action of the levers F, which are pivoted beneath the said recess D by the pins p in the correspondiugly-arranged recess, G, between the walls of the draw-head, as shown, said jaws opening outwardly by operation of the points f f of the self-adjusting levers F, which extend from thelower recess, G, through the openings g to the upper recess, D, into the cavity of the jaws E, as fully shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The coupling-jaws E are constructed with rounded ends between the inner parallel lines of the extension-lips of said jaws, and also provided with the concavity in the inner or rear side, to give freedom to the points or lips of the connecting-bar by the lateral motion of the cars. The said jaws are also provided with a cavity on the front side, and near the outer ends, for the reception of the points f of the self-adjusting levers F, so as to automatcally engage and interlock with the arrowshaped heads of the connecting-bar, to hold the same in a coupled position until said levers F are operated to release said connecting-bar, as fully set forth in Letters Patent No. 314,496, above already referred to.

In order to adapt myimprovements not only for use in connection with the coupling-bar ICG having arrow-shaped heads, but also for the l'be adjusted forward or backward by raising ordinary link coupling, the draw-head A is provided with a central vertical opening, H, directly above the transverse recess D, for the reception of the common coupling-pin H2, and the inner ends of the couplingjaws E are each provided with an upper and lower extension or projecting ilange, a, which automatically close the opening of the recessHsnfcientl y to sustain the lower end of the couplingpin, as shown in Fig. 3, until the link is forced into the draw-head to move the coupling-jaws E outward to allow the coupling-pin to drop down through said link to form the coupling or connection. A small vertical opening, b, is provided inthe bottom of the recess D, directly below the vertical opening H, for the reception of the lower end of said pin when it drops down to secure the link. By means of my improved construction the draw-head is thus rendered capable of readily receiving either the ordinary link or the connecting-bar having the arrow-shaped heads, and retaining the same therein in the simplest and best possible manner.

The levers F, by which the coupling-jaws E are moved outward to release the connectingbar,are connected by pivoted shanks c to other suitable levers arranged upon the sides and top of the cars, to obviate the necessity of going between the cars to perform such office.

' A suitable block, K, is arranged at the rear of the inner recess, C, of the draw-head to fill the opening between the interior C and the head of the torsion-bolt L, and which may the pin d.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car coupling constructed as described, the draw-head A, having the transverse recesses D and G, central vertical openings, H and b, and provided with the lockingjaws E, having extensions or iianges a, and

the operating-levers F, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

2. In a car coupling constructed as described, the draw-head A, having the transverse recesses D and G and central vertical openings, H and I), the said recess G communieating with the recess D through the vertical openings g g, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a car coupling constructed as described, the draw-head A, in combination with the locking-jaws E and operating-levers F, having the pivoted shanks c, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

4. In a car coupling constructed as described, the combination of the levers F and locking-jaws E with pin H2, for automatically coupling with the connecting-bar or common link, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN W. VAN DORS'ION,

Witnesses:

PARKER II. SWEET, J r., H. F. ROHRER. 

